Spring-hinge.



Patented Feb. 25, |902.

A; S. HELU. SPRING HINGE. (Appumiag ma aan. m. 1961.)

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(Nolodel.)

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I "NIMH" y Y l y v r n 1 I'NE NORIS PETERS C0, PNUTULIT'HD.. WASHINGTON D C 4N0. 694,273. Pafllfd Feb. 25, |902.

A. s. HELD. l SPRING HINGE.

(Applicatonled Jan. 19, 1901 (No Model.)

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No. 694,273. Patented Feb. 25, [902.

A. S. HELD. spams HINGE'.

. (Appuetion mea Jan. 19. i901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST S. HELD, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STOVER MANU# FACTURING COMPANY, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION fcrmrig part of Letters Patent No. 694,273, dated February 25, 1902.

Application filed January 19, 1901. Serial No.t 43,842. (No model.) u

T0 all 1071/0772/ it may concern:

Be it-known that I, AUGUST S. HELD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Freeport, in the count-y of Stephenson land State of Illinois, have invented certain newV and useful Improvements in Spring-Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring-hinges of the class ordinarily used for screen-doors and the like; land the general objects are to increase strength, lessen cost, obtain perfect action, and to provide for removing the-door from the casing without removing any member from the part to which it is ordinarily attached and without the use of any tools.

In the drawings, Figure l shows the hinge in elevation as it appears when upon a door. Figs. 2, 3, e are sections on the lines 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, respectively, the latter view, however, showing the hinge opened one hundred and eighty degrees. Fig.' 5 is a face view of a modified construction, parts being broken away. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7is a face view similar toy Fig. 5, showing a second modification. Fig. Sis a section on the line 8 S, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing a third modification. Figs. 10, 1l are sections on the line lO l0, Fig. 9, showing the hinge in its closed and open positions, respectively.

All the forms involve the well-known idea of having force exerted by a spring in a line at one side of the pintle-line, thereby tending to open or close the door, according as the same is opened beyond or not beyond a certain dead point or point where the line of force in moving from one side to the other of the pintleline intersects the pintle-axis of the hinge. It also involves advantages over other hinges in that it has novel features which give a stronger and smoother-working hinge at a less cost and which afford a more convenient means for throwing the spring out of action and at the same time allowing the complete disengagement of the leaves from each other.

In Figs. l, 2, 3,4, A represents a` hingeleaf provided with four suitably-spaced parallel ears, forming, in effect, an end pair a ct', a central pair ct a2, and an opposite end pair .a2 d3, the ears of the first pair and last pair being connected by preferably integral pintles a4 et? inthe same line and the ears of the second. pair being connected by a pivot-bar a not in the same line as'. the pintles just mentioned.v Upon this pivot baror rod is mounted a Yroller C to serve as a bearing for a certain spring. B represents' a second leaf provided with two hook-like ears b b-, adapted to fit between the ears d a and a2 d3, respectively, and to engage the corresponding pintles d4 a5. D is a C-shaped spring having one end perforated and passed through a slot b2 to engage a lug b3 upon the leaf B, whereby it is secured against undesired movement, and having its other end normally pressing outward against the roller C. The spring by its action and reaction tends to force the leaf A outward and the leaf B inward, and thereby the hooked ears are held constantly in engagement with their pintles. Thus fitting each ear of one leaf closely between two rigid ears of the opposite leaf prevents relative movement, gives great strength with little material, prevents the exertion of leverage upon the pintles, and at the same time gives the hinge the appearance of having a nearly-continuous central cylinder of metal, a feature found important in the market. As the hinge opens thesprings point of contact with the roller, While always at a fixed distance from the rollers axis, is first gradually forced away from the pintleaxis, owing to the eccentric mounting of the roller, and thereby the tension of the spring increases; but on further opening the point of contact approaches the pintle-axis, lessening the tension. Thus the spring tends first to close the door and later to open it and hold it open. It is to be observed that while the spring is pressed away from the pintle to a greater or less degree it presents different portions to the bearing, but without slipping, and hence without the use of unsightly and dust-retaining oil creaking is entirely avoided. The form of the spring may be greatly varied, and in Figs. 5, 6 I have shown it as a wire doubled to form a loop, which rests upon the roller c and has its two branches oppositely wound to form coils E, the wire ends engaging the leaf B. Figs. 7, 8 show a similar construction, with the end of the loop cut off,

IOO

may be readily separated, or, in other words,

again replaced, itis only necessary to open it the coils F F and the portions ff being unconnected and the roller being preferably grooved to aid in lkeeping the portions ff in place.

Figs. 9, 10, 1l illustrate a hinge like that shown in Fig.l l, except that the ears a as of that form are omitted, and a bridge b4 spans the space in which the free end of the spring D swings back and forth as the hinge opens and closes. This bridge lies entirely without the outer limit reached by the spring in 0rdinary use, and the space between it and the spring increases as the spring is compressed in the movement of the door. If,then,when the space is near a maximum,any not-readily-crushed body, as X, Fig. 11, be inserted in the space, the spring is thereby kept compressed, and when in the further movement of the door in the usual way the roller has' moved away from the spring the leaves A B the door may be removed. If the door be toa maximum,therebycompressing the spring and allowing the insertedf'body to fall out, for all parts will then be in place and operative, as at the outset.

What I claim isv l. The combination with a hinge-leaf provided with a bearin gat oneside of the pintlcaxis, of a second leaf pivotal] y connected with 1 the first, and a spring secured tothe second leaf and normally pressing said bearing in a line of direction passing to one side of the pintle-line, said second'leaf being provided with a member passing over the pressing portion of the spring and lying without the path followed by the latter as the hinge opens and closes 5 whereby the spring being pressed away from said member by the opening of the hinge may be held out of action by inserting between it and said member a body not readily crushed.

2. In a spring-hinge, the combination with a hinge-leafprovided with two widely-sepa` rated ears, of a second leaf provided with two ears connected by a rod at one side of the pintle-axis and adapted to fit between the ears of the first leaf and form therewith two pairs of pintle-connected contiguous ears, a roller mounted upon said rod, and a spring mounted vupon the rst leaf and normally pressing said roller in aline of direction passing to one side of the pintle-aXis.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and/State of Illinois, this 31stday of December, A. D. 1900.

AUGUST S. HELD. W'itnesses z W. A. MERRIFIELD,

JAS. W. DUNLOP. 

